Administrator Shah Travels to Colombia

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 26, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will travel to Colombia with Assistant Administrator for Latin American and the Caribbean Mark Feierstein on April 29-30. Administrator Shah will meet with President Juan Manuel Santos and other senior government officials to discuss economic and social development initiatives and aspects of the ongoing peace process. This trip comes one year after President Obama’s visit to Colombia for the Sixth Summit of the Americas and highlights the important role that the country and the Americas play for the United States.

While in Bogota on April 29, Administrator Shah will meet with demobilized ex-combatants in the process of being reintegrated into society to discuss the implications of the peace process. Administrator Shah will also meet with members of the Prevention of Child Recruitment into Illegal Armed Groups program, which USAID, along with other donors and organizations, has provided technical and financial support. The event will take place at the Escuela Taller, a school for at-risk youth to learn various trades, including construction, wood-working, carpentry, and culinary arts. The event will be open to the press.

On April 30, Administrator Shah will attend a land restitution event, open to the media, during which the Government of Colombia will transfer land titles to individuals who have been displaced due to the internal conflict. He will meet with local land restitution advocates to hear about progress on this issue. USAID has provided key support in the development and implementation of the Government of Colombia’s land restitution policies.

Administrator Shah will also speak at La Universidad de Los Andes, open to the media, about innovation and global development and the particular challenges and opportunities for the new generation of Colombians.

Please visit USAID Colombia website for more information about USAID’s work in Colombia.